Processor Frequency Display

Mismatch in Windows* System

Properties
Technical Advisory Document
November 2013
Revision 1.0

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Tech. Advisory

Contents
1

Introduction .......................................................................................................4
1.1

Affected Processors ..................................................................................4

1.2

Root Cause Description .............................................................................4

1.3

Resolution...............................................................................................5

Appendices ........................................................................................................6
2.1

Tech. Advisory

References ..............................................................................................6

Introduction

Introduction
On some Intel processors in certain system implementations, the frequencies seen
under the Windows system properties will not match. This is understood behavior in
Windows* 7 and Windows* 8

Example: Intel Core i5-4300U CPU @ 1.90GHz 2.5GHz

1.1

Affected Processors
Some Intel 3rd Generation and 4th Generation Core, Pentium, and Celeron
Processors that support Configurable Thermal Design Power (cTDP) will show this
behavior.

1.2

Root Cause Description

The first frequency shown is text included in the processor brand-string, unique for
each SKU and programmed at manufacturing by Intel. The second frequency is
populated by Windows, and is generated based on a Microsoft* algorithm using
certain hardware and BIOS parameters. A mismatch may be present on systems with
processors that support cTDP. The first frequency shown in the brand-string is
associated with the Base frequency at TDP of the processor, as defined in the
processors data sheet. The second frequency will align with the processors highest
supported cTDP point frequency as defined in the processor engineering design
specification.
If the part does not support a configurable TDP point that is higher than the Base TDP,
the numbers will match.

Tech. Advisory

Introduction

1.3

Resolution
This is understood behavior for the configurable TDP feature and is only a cosmetic
issue. This mismatch in frequency does not affect how Windows* manages the
processor frequencies, how the processor Intel Turbo Boost Technology function
operates, or performance of the processor.
Intel does not plan any fixes to this mismatch in frequencies.

Tech. Advisory

Appendices

Appendices

2.1

References

Processor Data Sheets

Mobile 4th Generation Intel Core Processors Family (H and M Processors)

Mobile 4th Generation Intel Core Processors Family (U and Y Processors)

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/3rd-gen-corefamily-mobile-vol-1-datasheet.html?wapkw=3rd+gen+core+data+sheet

What exactly is a P-State?

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/4th-gencore-family-mobile-u-y-processor-lines-vol-1-datasheet.html

Mobile 3rd Generation Intel Core, Pentium, and Celeron Processors

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/4th-gencore-family-mobile-m-h-processor-lines-vol-1-datasheet.html

http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2008/05/29/what-exactly-is-a-p-statept-1/

Intel Turbo Boost Technology Introduction

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/turboboost/turbo-boost-technology.html?wapkw=turbo

Tech. Advisory